Going into the weekend I had all my meals ready to go. Starting with Thursday night, I made a typical hippie bowl.
If I had to choose a combination of ingredients to eat forevermore it would probably be these: quinoa, carrots, corn, seitan, avocado
I recently got a question about the ratio of grain to veg to protein in my “hippie bowl” type meals.
In all honesty, I don’t consciously compose them with a specific ratio in mind, but if I had to guess I’d say it is pretty much 1:1:1.
Sometimes I use less protein, in which case I add more fat (avocado, nuts, etc.) to give the carb-heavy meal some staying power.
As an aside, I add nutritional yeast and/or Bragg’s liquid aminos 99% of the time after taking photos of the dish.
Yeah, this is definitely a meal I could eat seven days a week.
I made the same thing for lunch the next day.
The only change was the addition of teriyaki tofu (because I didn’t have much seitan left).
I also made another tupperware version of the dish to have on standby for either a post-work dinner or bring-to-work lunch. See? Prep queen.
As you can tell from the picture, it didn’t have avocado at the time, but I added spinach and avocado to it right before it was consumed (which ended up being the following night). After a long day at the hospital, there is nothing more satisfying than a fabulous meal all ready to go.
So, back to work food.
I got this Cherry Almond Two Degrees bar in my latest Lollihop box and as far as I can tell it’s ingredients are totally FODMAPs friendly.
The coolest thing about this company is that they are committed to making an impact on childhood hunger. For every bar you buy, they provide a meal for a hungry child. What an honorable mission (you can read more about how they work with non-profits here). What an easy way to support a great cause.
The cherry almond flavor kinda tasted like peanut butter and jelly. It was good and my GI system was a-okay after eating it. The only FODMAPs are from the dried fruit, which is in a small enough portion that no symptoms resulted.
I will definitely be buying these again. Who would have thought a delicious snack could do good. There’s really only 2 degrees of separation between you and a hungry child thanks to this company.
For breakfast, I made quinoa porridge.
After the previous week’s crock-pot steel cut oat success, I decided to try another grain in the slow cooker.
Quinoa Squash Porridge
[vegan, gluten free]
- 1 cup quinoa
- 1/2 cup butternut squash puree
- 1 T cinnamon
- 1/4 cup raisins
- 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- 3 cups water
I added everything together, stirred it all up and let it cook 7 hours on low heat overnight.
Then I woke up to this…
Yum!
Butternut squash gets so so sweet when it’s left to cook slowly over such a long amount of time. It was already cooked before I added it to the crock-pot, but it was almost caramel-y after slow cooking the night away. Cinnamon and quinoa and raisins on top? Yes please. It was almost like pumpkin pie.
Needless to say, I got some odd looks when I busted this one out at work.
My lunch was much more break room acceptable (not that I eat lunch in the break room). I soaked up the 80 degree weather outside while digging into my lunch leftovers. After my shift ended I headed home to my previously tupp-ed up dinner.
Exhibit A + avocado and spinach. Dinner. Done.
I stocked up on seasonal Theo chocolate bars (Gingerbread Spice and Nutcracker Toffee) and cracked one open for dessert. A little goes a long way with these bad boys.
The next morning was especially lovely.
Made even more lovely by the easy peasy breakfast sitch.
Course deux of quinoa squash porridge with extra almond milk.
I headed off to the hospital, pre-packed eats in tow.
Weekend warrior.
My lunch course had spring greens, macaroni noodles, soft boiled eggs, and nutritional yeast on top.
I had to refill my nooch stash after making so many seitan logs and quinoa quiches this past month, hence the massive tub from WF.
The rest of my food (above) is self explanatory, but I did want to mention the Snapea Crisps. I’ve seen these products before, but I can’t recall where (Ethel, were they yours?). In any event, I’d never tried them before but they intrigued me.
I got the sample size in my Lollihop box and based on the photo, I was expecting some kind of “healthy” soy bean fry thing. Clearly I’m an idiot, since the product name has “peas” in it. It also says “baked” on the wrapper. So far I’m 0 for 2.
Ingredient check? Wholesome enough. FODMAPs friendly and vegan.
They are basically crispy peas that have been baked in oil and salt. In a blind taste test, I’d doubt I would have known they were peas at all. They tasted airy, yet left my fingers greasy. But they were delicious.
Now I have to go on a semi-rant about the whole 100 calorie pack thing. It’s so stupid! First of all, it’s the opposite of environmentally friendly. Secondly, the idea that calorie-controlled snack bags are somehow healthier is such a lie. Who cares that there are just 100 kcals in a pouch? If the pouch is filled with 6 mini Oreo cookies, you’re still eating Oreo cookies. Hydrogenated fats and HFCS don’t vanish just because you are eating a small amount of them. I’ve also read studies that people eat several packs at once because one isn’t satisfying enough which results in more calories consumed than if they were eating out of a box and just stopping when they were full. Rant over.
Snapeas are yummy, but I don’t know how healthy or filling they really are. I think they’d be a good topping to a salad, to give it some texture variety and crunch, but otherwise I’m not sure if I’d buy these again.
After work I threw together a hippie plate of spinach, wild rice, soft boiled eggs, sweet potatoes, and avocado.
I had nuts and chocolate for dessert, laid out my scrubs, packed my food, and then hit the sack.
Shift three started with a cookie. A double chocolate chunk cookie to be exact.
A few days ago I got a package of treats by Erin Baker’s wholesome baked goods. It may seem unconventional to start the day with a cookie, but if you look at the ingredients, they are basically as healthy as a bowl of oats.
This is the mini breakfast cookie, which has just 100 calories. I had it on the way to the hospital with my coffee knowing that I’d have another more substantial breakfast in a few hours. I wasn’t really expecting much but it was soft and chewy and chocolate-y and really really good!
I can’t wait to try the granola and other flavors of breakfast cookies next! Check out the rest of their products…the flavors will have you drooling in no time (gingerbread? yes please!).
Anyway, after I assessed my patients, gave meds, sent labs, hung heparin, yadda yadda…it was time for breakfast number two.
Plain greek yogurt topped in another new (to me) product.
Giddy Up & Go granola is vegan, nut free & gluten free and packed with all my favorite seeds. The most interesting thing about it was that it had GF corn flakes in it.
I’ve never thought of adding cereals to my granola, but this was really delicious and might lead to a new home-made recipe.
Lunch was essentially the same as the previous night’s dinner (spinach, sweet potatoes, eggs, and Bragg’s), plus leftover quiche and tofu.
I had a similar dish for dinner with the mac ‘n cheese I ordered to-go from The Veggie Grill.
Time for your input:
What are your thoughts on 100 calorie packs?
Cookies for breakfast – yeah or nay?
Are you content eating the same thing for multiple meals in a row?
Thanks for the more detailed info on the hippie bowls!!! All of your pictures look so delicious and I love how meals that are really so simple to put together can be so creative at the same time. Next on my list to try is the quinoa porridge.
Thanks Elise for inspiring me to get serious with my food prep-really makes a busy life so much less crazy!
Have a good day!
I’ve mentioned this before, but I totally eat the same “hippie bowl” every day with minor variations. It usually includes rice, chickpeas, veggies and either avocado or Earth Balance and a few different things thrown in to mix things up. While I realize some people think it’s boring, I think it’s delicious and so easy. You can change the whole texture and taste by changing the spices, the carb (rice, pasta, etc.) the protein, etc. and still have the same basic meal. How is that difficult?
As for the 100 calorie packs? Lame. I realize people are too lazy to actually portion out the food they want, but it still annoys me. Plus, most end up eating 2-3 bags of the crap anyway, which kind of defeats the purpose. Sorry. Rant over 😉
I’m going to miss being a weekend warrior with you!!
And I totally agree on the 100 calorie pack thing. It’s still a crappy snack food.
At least for me, 100-calorie packs are stupid, mainly because I have struggled with some serious eating issues and am finally beginning to piece myself back together and gain some weight. I think when you are trying to learn how to eat intuitively, 100-calorie packs have a really negative effect on basically everything. Rather than listening to how I feel and enjoying the taste of whatever I am eating, I think about the size of the 100-calorie serving. I then end up thinking I ought to generalize that serving-size to other snacks that don’t come prepackaged in 100-calorie packs, and realize, to my horror, that I most certainly go waaaaay over the 100-calorie mark every time. And then I feel awful about things, and want to prepackage all my food into little 100-calorie packs.
Don’t get me started on those single-serving envelopes of Justin’s almond butter. My sweet and caring mom sent me 5 of them to keep in my bag at school for emergency-snackage, and I haven’t so much as touched them much less allowed myself to look at them. I don’t want to know how many calories/grams of fat are in that tiny envelope of AB because I don’t want to be thinking about that when I use some from the jar.
SO: I avoid them like the plague. But maybe I’m just ridiculous.
I think I had the exact same Lollihop box! 🙂
For the most part I’d prefer something fresh than a “snackpack” but they’re great for traveling. Cookies should always be eaten for breakfast! 🙂 The only concern is if you’re a serious sugar-freak it could lead to an all-day binge. And yes, I frequently eat the same thing multiple days in a row – which I blame partly on my week prep which includes making large quantities of things like quinoa and seitan.
oh yum, that slow cooker quinoa porridge looks awesome! i will definitely be giving that a try soon!
I’m not a fan of 100 calorie packs – I’d rather buy a big bag and separate it out myself if that’s what I want. Less packaging and cheaper! Also, gingerspice chocolate?! Is that gluten free?? it looks amazing.
100 Calorie Packs are ridiculous in my mind. I remember thinking they were the coolest thing ever when they first came out and I was more concerned with calories than the actual nutrition of my food. Looking back–why on Earth would you want to eat Chips Ahoy cardboard crisps when you could easily make a more substantial snack with similar flavors. I have no problem with eating the same things over and over again. I have had the same breakfast nearly every morning for the past month and a half and I’m still not sick of it.
I have personally thought of the 100 calorie packs to be quite ridiculous from the very beginning for reasons that you have already stated. Too many think that the problem is calories when in reality it is all about what you are eating.
Cookies for breakfast? Sure! definitely depending on what is in the cookie but it looks like yours was nutritious.
I consider myself a creature of habit and could eat oatmeal, veggie/whole grain bowls, and dark chocolate everyday, and I do.
Theo chocolate is fantastic! Have you ever done the tour of their factory in Seattle? I just visited last summer and it was pretty much the best (especially the part with the unlimited samples).
Another thumbs down to the 100 calorie packs? The only one I’ve tried (the oreo one) tasted bland, boring, and gross! For 100 calories, I don’t understand the choice of the oreo crisps over an apple…or a spoonful of peanut butter…or…need I go on?
I don’t feel 100 calorie packs are any different than grabbing a granola bar or vegan cookies. Same amount of packaging, right? I use them for work snacks, and they work for me because I found I’m more likely to eat them when individually packaged, which keeps my energy up, and less likely to overeat when I get home because I don’t feel starving (I have been getting the cocoa dusted almonds lately). I’m the same way with carrots, I love them, but found I eat more when I buy the peeled baby carrots. A bit more wasteful and expensive, but if the goal is to get them in my body, thats what makes it happen 🙂 It does hurt my hippie pride a bit, but it is what it is.
Thanks for the bowl tips! Its really been a huge help to see what combinations you use for my own!
I have told my friends repeatedly, the best part about being a grownup is that you get to have cookies for breakfast!
(I haven’t had any for breakfast since I’ve been sugar-free, but maybe I’ll make my own soon. I love that Erin Baker’s makes a healthful breakfast cookie!)
Re: 110 Calorie packs… Personally, I like to eat a lot, often, all day long. And luckily, this is possible with a healthy diet! I would rather eat a ton of veggies than one 100-cal snack pack of something that doesn’t provide much nutrition OR make me full.
(I meant “100 Calorie Packs,” of course. Not that the pretend extra 10 cals would change anything!)
completely agree. i just buy nuts, dried fruit, and cereal in bulk and make my own “trail mix” – way healthier and eco-friendly.
i think that makes total sense sarah. if its already hard to get portion sizes out of your head, these 100 kcal packs are a terrible idea. especially because the size is so insanely small and they are just crap anyway. when i eat a store-bought vegan cookie and its considered 2 servings i just laugh because who eats half a cookie? im not going to stop part way through because the FDA decided to make a serving some arbitrary amount. my cookie is healthy, real food and im not going to restrict how much of it i have if i want the whole thing. all a serving size does is create a reason to NOT listen to our bodies. it basically goes against all intuition. eat more if youre hungry, stop when youre satisfied, disregard portions if its quality food. 🙂
not GF. sorry.
ooo, i love those nuts!
as for the green factor, yeah, i suppose the packaging is the same amount as a store-bought bar, but i was thinking about the difference between making my own trail mix or portioning out my own nuts from my bulk purchases. i have cereal, nuts, dried fruit, etc on hand already so if i just re-use the baggy over and over its cheaper, healthier, and more eco-friendly.
but obviously there are places to cut corners. nobody is 100% perfect in green living. i wish i could bring my mason jars into whole foods and just refill my quinoa, nuts, and raisins on site, but i still have to use a plastic bag to bring them home from the store…yeah, it’s in bulk so i do it way less often but still…ya know.
I think 100 packs are bogus! They have little to no nutritional value and they are a waste of money….not to mention the packaging is so bad for the environment!
Cookies for breakfast? Yes please! Also, I can eat the same meal pretty much everyday! I will change a few things up here and there, like the veggies but I don’t mind the same meal as long as it’s yummy!
Btw, I am totally making your seitan log. I have always wanted to make seitan and I think your recipe sounds easy and delicious!
I feel ya, I wish there was a system for bringing in your own containers! I bring in my used plastic produce/ bulk bin bags and reuse them. I just keep old ones in my reusable grocery bag so they’re always with me when I’m grocery shopping. Everything little thing helps right?
WOW. All your hippie bowls and all your other eats look absolutely incredible, mouthwatering, healthy and delicious, Elise! 😀 Seriosly, I just want to eat it all off the page. 🙂 This is my idea of food porn, lol! 😛 And I have NO problem at all eating the same thing over and over again – if I really love it! If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! 😉 xyx
PS; I so so want to eat that spinach, wild rice, soft boiled eggs, sweet potatoes, and avocado bowl, right now. That has SO many of my facourite ingredients, and I am literally re-reading it now and drooling. You have no idea how much I’ve been craving nana’s cookies lately, and your mention of Erin Bakers’ cookie has completely tipped me over the edge, lol! 😛 xyx
definitely. thats a good idea.
im the annoying girl with my loose produce rolling around the checkout belt because i dont want to use bags for potatoes and avocados. ha.
Those Theo bars look fantastic! They say milk chocolate though…do they not upset your stomach? Do they come in dark chocolate!?
I love products with a mission. That’s rad that that company donates a meal to every bar bought.
First off, not to be a hater, but I loathe 100-calorie packs. Mostly due to all the damn packaging involved. Is it really so hard to buy a huge bag of something and portion it out oneself? I know it’s probably good for some people who don’t know how to practice portion-control, but some of those packs only contain one piece of something. Like the individual bag of prunes.. it only has one freakin prune in it!! What a waste of plastic! Sorry to go on such an rant, but I really get annoyed with those things (obviously).
On another note, I love the idea of your quinoa porridge. Recently I’ve been adding more quinoa to my morning bowl of oats, but I hadn’t thought of cooking it in the crock pot. Will be trying this very very soon! Especially with some squash. Love me some of that orange stuff 🙂
are you serious with the one prune thing? thats the most ridiculous thing ive ever friggin’ heard of. seriously.
i have never actually bought the 100 kcal packs but a girl i went to nursing school w used to eat the goldfish ones all the time. she had lots of issues though so that was really the tip of the iceberg.
My Nana used to buy those snap pea crisps from Trader Joe’s all the time–they were my favorite snack at her house! Now whenever I see them, I think of her 🙂
I don’t know if this really has to do with the nutritional aspect of the 100 cal packs as much as it has to do with the calories…. and I know not everyone is concerned with the calories they take in, But i look at how many of those packs people eat just to get that satisfying full.. when really, i say.. man i could eat a medium banana for those 100 calories, get more nutrients, and be way fuller than i would be if i ate one of those teenie packs.
I am perfectly content to eat the same foods over and over again, and I also love to have leftovers to pack for my lunches. I love to see what you pack – gives me inspiration!
I make granola in HUGE amounts for Viper… and he loves cornflakes, so I mix 1/2 granola with 1/2 cornflakes and he loves it (works out cheaper too, as cornflakes are so cheap to buy!) He reckons eating just straight up granola is too rich (I reckon he’s crazy.. )
Love your bowls… we eat pretty similarly actually – bowls of joy 🙂
100 calorie packs make me angry too.
I’m with you on the 100 calorie packs… they are a total waste of resources and the exact opposite of environmentally-friendly. It takes hardly any effort to measure out 100 calories-ish of a snack out and stick it in a reusable container! Plus it’ll cost less!
But in random news, I found a tiny little crockpot for $6 at Big Lots. I’m totally going to use that to make overnight hot cereal!
E!!! Your quinoa fotos feel a bit on the déjà vu side for me. Love! I did get the quinoa intro from you of course.
Ps. Yes, I used to eat the snapeas by the regular size bagfuls! I do not believe they are on the healthier end when you consume family serving sizes in one sitting but they were salty and greasy and yes, some part of me thought they were “healthy.” I actually have not purchased a bag in over a year. True story.
Agreed with the 100 calorie pack sitch. But some people do need help in some form of self control and moderation, so I don’t knock it too much. Plus, in the motherland, stuff is always packaged in smaller portions not because you’re calorie counting, but for the pure fact that less of whatever is packaged means it’s cheaper even though you’re hurting the environment and the packaging costs way more to produce than the product itself. It’s un poquito triste.
Oh wow, so much delicious food! I have to comment on the bar though – cherries are definitely not FODMAP friendly. Like apples, they have both sorbitol and fructose. I miss them! So the fact that you ate the bar and had no ill effects makes me think I should test a few out 😉
ive been treating most dried fruit the same way as raisins and dates (which i think are also high in both fructose and polyols) meaning small servings. this bar had prune puree, dried plums, and dried cherries so i was kinda nervous but when i opened it up there was minimal dried fruit as compared the other ingreds. i tolerated it totally fine. i dont know that id go and eat a bag of dried cherries now though…
I am all about cookies for breakfast! Espesh if they’re good ones. And same meals in a row- no probs; plus that’s why I couldn’t really blog all my meals- my lack of creativity would be known to all 😛
I love those Snapea Crisps way too much, which is why I never buy them.
I’m not a fan of 100-calorie packs. I used to eat them in college when I was constantly dieting, but I find them ridiculous now. The 100-cal versions of popular snack food is never good anyway, and I know I can trust myself to eat from a large bag of healthier snacks without going crazy.
I do something similar! Often when making granola i add the last serving or so of semi crushed kind of stale puffins that are past their prime- baking in the oven gives them back the crispy!
ive been testing my gut out with the low fodmaps diet, so yes, i can feel the effects of the chocolate. i get gassy pretty much right away. i definitely stick to small amounts so i don’t end up in crippling pain. im not sure if there are dark chocolate ones. i didnt see any at the WF bulk bins, but that doesnt mean they dont make them.
i would LOVE to tour the factory.
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This post was awesome!! Definitely some great ideas for meals here, and I am inspired by how organised you are with your meals, having breakfast, lunch and dinner all organised days ahead. I guess you’d have to be with such a busy job!
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could you use canned pumpkin instead of butternut squash puree?! thoughts?
definitely!
Hey Elise,
How did you cook the squash prior to making it into quinoa porridge?